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38
The number of cases per thousand of the population was 1.6.
The cases were more or less evenly distributed, as usual, throughout the
borough, and only in a few instances was it possible to determine accurately the
source of infection. In 6 cases the source appeared to be a member of the family
previously infected; in 4 cases infection was counted to have been acquired in
school, and in 9 cases in an institution.
The number of swabs from doubtful cases submitted for bacteriological
examination was 2,967. The bulk of these were from institutions, St. Charles,
and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospitals, and were taken from ward contacts
with notified cases. Fortunately nearly all proved negative, a positive result
actually being returned in 152 instances only.
Of the registration districts, that contributing the largest number of cases,
naturally, since in respect of child population it is the largest, was Christ Church,
with 60. In All Souls the number was 39, in St. Mary 40, and in St. John 15.
As usual, the age groups 1—5 and 5—15 were those most affected, 69 of the
cases falling into the former and 147 into the latter group.
No applications for a free supply of antitoxin under the Diphtheria Antitoxin
(London) Order, 1910, were received.
The nuisances detected during the course of investigating the notified cases
were : Dirty premises, etc., 9. These were all remedied after service of notices.
The Schick Testing and Diphtheria Immunization Clinic opened at the beginning
of 1928, continued to operate under Dr. Bulman at 113, Marylebone Road, to
which address it had been transferred from the Lissonia Centre on 12th January,
1931. In the main the children dealt with were those attending the Welfare
Centres.